Hungary tests dead swan for bird flu
By Michael Georgy
The Star, 25 Oct 2005

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - A dead swan found on Lake Ferto, which straddles the border between Austria and Hungary, is being tested for bird flu, Hungary's Chief Veterinarian Miklos Suth told reporters on Monday. 

"In Hungary there is also a swan found on Lake Ferto already under examination," Suth said.  

Suth said the swan was found by Austrian officials on the lake, called Neusiedler in German, and they handed it over to Hungary for testing. 

But Austria's Health Ministry spokesman Christoph Hoerhan said it was found on the Hungarian side of the lake.  Test results on the swan are expected in three days.

Hungary is also testing a sample from up to 20 pigeons found dead since the weekend near the border with Serbia and Romania, but veterinary authorities said they likely suffered from poisoning after feeding on the same sunflower seed. 

Regular tests have covered a total of 950 wild and domesticated birds but all results so far have been negative.